Utility pole construction



I J1me 197 P. EDUBOFF' 3324,13

UTILITY POLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1966 ATTORNEYS 3,324,613 UTILITY POLE CONSTRUCTION Philip Dubofi, Arlington Ave, Kearny, NJ. 07032 I iled Sept. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 580,999 Claims. ((31. 52122) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 307,878, filed May 28, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to household utility poles, i.e, poles of the type which are commonly used for room dividers, planters, towel racks, shelf supports, and the like.

In recent years, household utility poles have been put to wide-spread use by virture of their adaptability to conveniently support various types of holding means. Yet, notwithstanding the wide use to which such poles have been put, it has been found that the poles previously suggested do not always yield the desired support characteristics.

Normally, in the use of poles of the type in question, the user supports same between two vertically spaced apart surfaces, such as the floor and ceiling of a room. With differing types of construction, used both in residential and commercial applications, the pole constructions must not only be vertically positionable with relative ease, but they must also be adjustable to accommodate different vertical spacings, such as, for example, different floor to ceiling heights. Moreover, for many purposes, it is desirable to place such poles in raised position with respect to a floor or in a lower position with respect to a ceiling, i.e.. in some instances, it is desirable to be able to install the poles between the top of a table or a cabinet and the ceiling, and/ or between a depending upper surface and the floor. Thus, the poles should possess adjustability which will permit the same to be positioned between two surfaces, regardless of the distance at which they are spaced apart.

The adjustability aspects of the pole constructions can be comparatively easily understood, but the required functional characteristics are not readily susceptible to determination merely from an inspection of a pole construction. Instead, to determine the functional strength characteristics, it appears that, at least, four specific tests should be applied, namely (1) resistance to sliding motion; (2) deflection under load; (3) resistance to rotary motion; and, (4) resistance to flexure. These tests indicate the durability of the pole units, as well as the suitability thereof for use in given applications.

In determining the resistance to sliding motion consistent with the tests outlined above, a pole would be installed in a normal vertical position, and then a force would be applied at the base of the pole tending to move the same laterallyi.e., sideways. In other words, resistance to sliding motion of any pole construction is determined by the load required to laterally shift the pole with the load being applied sideways thereof, as by pulling sideways on the pole.

To ascertain the deflection under load, the pole assembly would again be installed in its vertical normal position, but the pole would then be loaded with weights at one or more positions therealong. The deflection at the center of the pole span would be measured-Le, the deflection from vertical position would be determined.

The resistance to rotary motion test involves the use of a moment arm installed on the pole construction as 3,324,6l3 Patented June 13, 1967 vertically positioned, but with no load applied thereto. The moment arm is subjected to measured torsion forces to determine the force required to rotate the pole assembly or construction as installed.

To determine the resistance to flexure of a pole construction, the same is installed in its normal position, and then a given force is imparted at the center of the pole unit. More specifically, the pole is subjected to a given impact at its center and a measurement is made of the deflection and recovery motion.

The prior pole constructions most commonly produced on the commercial market incorporate a plurality of pole sections, and at least one spring pressed plunger-type mechanism engageable with one of the surfaces between which the pole is to be supported. These prior devices, when subjected to the test procedures outlined above, do not prove satisfactory. Their resistance to rotary motion and resistance to fiexure and deflection under load are not particularly desirable. In another type of commercially produced pole construction wherein telescoping sections are locked together by a set screw, generally similar problems are encountered. There thus remains a need for a pole construction capable of being used as a support member and which favorably respond to the adjustability requirement as well as to the operational and/ or functional tests discussed above.

Another consideration of pole units in accordance with the principles of the present invention resides in the desirability of providing telescoping pole sections'which can be readily adjusted axially of one another and wherein one of the pole sections can rotate relatively to one another. It must be recognized and appreciated that individual pole sections can vary in their dimensional tolerances merely due to the normal mass production techniques by which such sections are made. Thus, in some instances, a pair of telescoped pole sections may fit tightly with one another whereas in other instances, there is a tendency for such sections to jiggle due to the fact that one section is slightly oversized and the other section is slightly undersized. Naturally, it is extremely desirable and beneficial to provide as strong and rigid a pole unit as possible, and to do so, jiggle or loose fitting between telescoped pole sections must be eliminated.

With the foregoing in mind, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the difii-culties and deficiencies associated with prior art forms of pole units and to provide in their stead, a new and improved pole unit having superior characteristics of strength and rigidity,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pole unit incorporating means which permits telescoped pole sections to be adjusted axially with respect to each other and which permits one section to freely rotate relative to the other until the entire pole unit becomes tightly fixed between its supporting surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a. pole unit which has a greater resistance to sliding, deflection, flexure and rotary motion than previously known pole units.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pole unit which can be relatively inexpensively manufactured and sold, which can be relatively easily erected and adjusted without the need for using any tools, and which, when assembled, produces a firm and rigid struc ture capable of supporting weighted attachments.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shelf assembly incorporating pole units constructed in accordance herewith;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view, partially broken away, showing the preferred construction of the components used in a pole unit provided hereby;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the central portion of the pole assembly of FIGURE 2, showing the engaging relationship between respective telescoping pole sections, and the adjustment and support collar associated therewith; and,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view through the central portion of the pole assembly, showing a modified form of adjustment and support collar.

If reference is first made to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the shelf unit shown therein is generally designated by the numeral 2. This unit includes a pair of pole assemblies 4 and 6 extending between a pair of spaced parallel supporting surfaces. The respective pole assemblies 4 and 6 are generally identical, and as shown, they are positioned in spaced apart parallel relation to one another so as to support a plurality of shelves 12, 12a, 12b, etc. there-between. The particular manner in which the shelves are secured to the poles 4 and 6 does not constitute part of the invention and suffice it to say that the shelves are secured to the poles in any conventional manner well known in the art.

Having set forth a single environment for the use of the invention, it will be readily appreciated that the poles hereof can be put to various other uses, such as, panel supports for room dividers, pole supports for planter units, pole supports for towel racks, pole supports for corner shelves, and various other commonly known applications.

Regardless of the particular use to which the pole hereof is put, the construction thereof preferably incorporates a particular combination of features, as illustrated more clearly in FIGURES 2-4. In FIGURE 2, the pole 4 includes three pole sections 20, 22 and 24. The pole section 22 is telescopically engageable in overlying relation with the pole section 20. In contrast, the pole section 24 includes a lower end portion 26 of reduced diameter. The lower end portion 26 terminates at its upper end in an outwardly flared edge portion 28 which is engageable with the top edge 30' of the pole section 22. The pole section 24 thus includes an upper portion 32 preferably having an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the pole section 22 and the lower smaller diameter portion 26. The diameter of portion 26 of the pole section 24 corresponds to the inner diameter of the pole section 22. The portion 26 thus serves as an interior coupling piece between the respective sections 22 and 24.

The pole means 4 is preferably hollow throughout its length and various sections, but in any event, it has hollow opposed end portions 50 and 52. A resilient suction cup member or gripping means 54 is disposed at the upper end of the pole means. The suction cup member includes the base portion 56 which frictionally is received in the end portion 50. Both the base portion 56 and the pole are preferably of cylindrical contour. The suction cup member 54 further includes a suction cup head 58 which is integral with the base portion 56 and which extends beyond the end portion 50* of the pole means for engagement with the upper vertical surface indicated in the drawing as 51.

It has been found that for desired operation and convenience in installation, the base portion 56 of the suction cup member preferably includes a hollow cylindrical recess 60 disposed coaxially with the base portion 56 and in turn with the cylindrical end portion 50 of the pole means with which it is frictionally engaged. The recess 60 permits the suction cup member to be easily inserted in frictional engagement within the end portion 50 of the pole means.

The suction cup member 54 is preferably made of rubber, but it can be made of any resilient material which will retain an air seal to achieve the desired suction locking. Moreover, the suction cup member 54, can, if desired, be considered as a gripping means, because its primary function is to provide a grip for the upper end of the pole means against the top vertical surface with which it is engaged.

In contrast to the upper end portion of the pole means, the lower end portion 52 thereof receives a jack means generally designated by the numeral 70. This jack means includes a plug member 72 having a base portion 74 engaged in the lower end portion 52 of the pole means. The plug member 72 further includes an underlying enlarged head 76 which is integrally formed with the base portion 74 of the plug member 72. The plug member 72 is centrally and cylindrically recessed as at 78, again to facilitate the insertion of the plug member 72, but also and more important, to receive therein the end of a threaded shaft 79 which forms part of an adjustment member 80. The adjustment mem-' ber 80, in addition to the threaded shaft 79, includes a foot piece 82 secured to the shaft 79. The shaft 79 passes through a threaded aperture 77 extending coaxially through the plug member 72 and into the recess 78.

The plug member 72 is preferably formed of nylon and the foot piece 82 associated with the adjustment member preferably comprises a circular metal plate 84 embedded in and covered by a synthetic resin covering 86. The synthetic resin covering is made of a hard and durable plastic to provide a good frictional grip against any lower surface with which the pole means is engaged. The plate 84 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the shaft 79, so that the foot piece 80 turns with the shaft 79. On the other hand, the plug member 72 is tightly frictionally engaged with the lower end 52 of the pole means so that the plug member 72 turns with the pole means when the foot member 80 and threaded shaft 79 are fixed with respect to a support surface.

Disposed over the section 20 of the pole means and under the section 22 thereof is a collar which vertically supports the pole section 22 in telescoping vertical engagement over the pole section 20. The collar 90 has a bore 91 therethrough dimensioned to receive the pole section 20. The bore 91 has an upper at least partially outwardly flared end portion 92 which is dimensioned to freely receive the lower edge 93 of the pole section 20 in a manner to be more clearly described hereinafter. The collar 90, moreover, has a threaded aperture 94 extending from the periphery thereof into the bore 91. A set screw 95 is threaded into the aperture 94 and is engageable with the pole section 20 to lock the collar 90 in place thereon at any location along its length. Prior to locking, the collar is slid along section 20 to permit initial pole elongation adjustment.

The collar 90, as shown in FIGURE 3, includes a first circular ring surface or end face disposed at the top of the collar and coaxially with the bore 91 thereon. It moreover includes a second and small circuluar ring surface 102 disposed inwardly of the top of the collar but still coaxially with the bore 91. A continuous and circuluar tapered wall surface 104 extends between the end face 100 and the second ring surface 102. Thus, the surface 104 circumscribes and defines a frusto-conical cavity means within the upper end portion 92 of the collar, such cavity means communicating between the bore 91 and the end face 100 and being angularly inwardly tapered therebetween.

The lower end portion of the pole section 22 is disposed within this frusto-conical cavity means with the lower edge 93 contacting the wall surface 104 at some location along its extent. A slight variation in the size of the pole section 22 can hence be accommodated. If the pole section 22 is slightly oversized, it will tend to sit high along the wall surface 104 near the end face 100. On the other hand, if the pole section 22 is slightly undersized, it will tend to sit low along the wall surface 104 near the section 102.

The collar 90 is fabricated of suitable synthetic resinous material, such as nylon, and the various pole sections are customarily fabricated of a metallic material. Hence, the relatively sharp metal edge 93 at the bottom of the pole section 22 seats against the plastic wall surface 104 when the collar is initially positioned. Inherently, when the final adjustment of the pole sections is performed, in a manner to be described hereinafter, the edge 93 will at least partially bite into the wall surface 164 thereby firmly locking the pole sections 20 and 22 with respect to one another and preventing any jiggle or relative lateral movement therebetween.

Considering now the operation of the present invention, the collar 94 is loosely slipped onto the pole section 20, the threaded shaft 79 is screwed inwardly until the foot piece 82 is adjacent the enlarged head 76 of the jack plug member 72, and the pole sections 20 and 22 are telescopically assembled. Then, to accomplish initial adjustment of the pole unit, the collar 90 is slid along the pole section 20 until contact is made with the bottom of the pole section 22. Continued sliding of the collar 90 and telescopic expansion of the pole sections 20 and 22 continues until the foot piece 8 2 contacts the lower supporting surface and the suction cup member 54 contacts the upper supporting surface. Then, the set screw 95 is tightened to lock the collar 90 in position, and initial adjustment is completed.

To accomplish final adjustment, the lower pole section 20 is rotated, but the foot piece 82 does not rotate due to its frictional contact with the lower supporting surface. Thus, the threaded shaft 79 gradually moves outwardly through the threaded bore 92, thereby increasing the overall length of the pole unit. Continued rotation of the pole section 20 causes continued unthreading of the shaft '79 in the bore 77 thus pressing the foot piece 82 firmly against the lower supporting surface and pressing the suction cup member 54 firmly against the upper supporting surface. When the foot piece and suction cup are each tightly pressed against their respective supporting surfaces, continued rotation of the pole section 20 causes the lower edge 93 of the pole section 22 to bit or dig into the sloped wall surface .104 on the plastic collar 90. At this time, the pole unit will be finally adjusted and rotation of the pole section 20 can cease. The finally adjusted pole unit is very strong and rigid, having a high degree of resistance to sliding, deflection, rotation and flexure. Also, there is no jiggle or relative lateral movement between one pole section and the next, because of the biting action of the upper pole section into the sloped or angled collar wall surface 104.

If attention is now directed to FIGURE 4, there is shown therein a modified embodiment of the adjustment and support collar 90. In this embodiment, a channel or groove 1% is formed in one wall of the cylindrical bore 91, with the channel extending axially for the full length of the bore. The body walls of the collar include a thickened or enlarged projecting portion 103 opposite the groove 1%, and a threaded bore extends transversely of the collar 90, between the groove 1% and the outside of the portion 108. A locking screw including a threaded shank 119 and an enlarged head 112 is utilized instead of the set screw 95 used in the previously described embodiment. The threaded shank 110 extends through the threaded bore and manual rotation of the head 112 moves the inner end of the shank 110 into or out of the bore 91. It will thus be appreciated that no tool whatsoever,

not even a screwdriver, is needed to lock the collar in position along the pole section 20.

As aforementioned, the size or diameter of the pole sections can vary slightly due to normal manufacturing tolerances. It was previously explained how the sloped wall surface 104 of the collar compensates for dimensional variations in the pole section 22. However, it will also be understood that the pole section 20' may vary slightly in diameter. The bore 91 therefore is dimensioned to accommodate the largest acceptable tolerance for a given diameter of pole. If the pole has somewhat less than this maximum tolerance, its diameter will be somewhat less than the diameter of the bore 91. However, as shown in FIGURE 4, when the locking screw is adequately tightened, the inner end of the shank will press the pole section 20 tightly against the side of the bore 91 opposite to the channel 106. This will assure that upon tightening of the locking screw, the collar 90 is tightly and immovably locked against the pole section 20', regardless of the normal commercial variations or tolerances in the diameter of such pole section.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it should be apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of the specification have been successfully achieved by the present invention. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. In a pole unit having first and second telescoped axially elongated metallic sections with the first pole section being slidably disposed at least partially with the second pole section, the improvement for permitting said pole sections to be relatively axially expanded and for permitting said pole sections to rotate relatively to one another, comprising:

a collar fabricated of synthetic resinous material and having a bore therethrough dimensioned to receive said first pole sections;

locking means for engaging said collar against said first pole section at any desired location along its length;

said collar including an end face directed toward the end of said second pole section;

said collar including a continuous substantially frustoconical cavity means communicating between said end face and said bore;

said cavity means being defined by a continuous wall surface being angularly inwardly tapered from said end face to said bore;

said second pole section having its lower end disposed within said cavity means with at least a portion of said lower end seating against said continuous wall surface;

said seating of said second pole section lower end against said continuous wall surface thereby serving to maintain said first and second pole sections in preselected axially expanded disposition while simultaneously permitting one of said pole sections to rotate relatively to the other;

said relative rotation between said pole sections causing said metallic lower end on said second pole section to at least partially bite into said synthetic resinous continuous wall surface to thereby form a substantially rigid interconnection therebetween which prevents relative movement of said first and second pole sections perpendicularly to the axes thereof.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a threaded aperture extending from the periphery of said collar to the bore thereof, and means threaded in said aperture, said set screw being engageable with the exterior of said first pole section to position said collar therealong.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said screw means includes an enlarged manually engageable head portion which can be digitally turned to operate said locking means.

4. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein a plug pole unit is effective to unthread said shank from said threaded aperture and thereby move said element away from said plug member. I

5. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said plug member is disposed at one end of said pole unit and wherein the other end of said pole unit includes a suction ,cup member coupled with a pole section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,163 11/1939 Akins 248354 2,584,015 1/1952 Hawes 248354 2,930,639 3/1960 Wood 287-58 3,111,723 11/1963 Bates 211--177 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

O R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A POLE UNIT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND TELESCOPED AXIALLY ELONGATED METALLIC SECTIONS WITH THE FIRST POLE SECTION BEING SLIDABLY DISPOSED AT LEAST PARTIALLY WITH THE SECOND POLE SECTION, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR PERMITTING SAID POLE SECTIONS TO BE RELATIVELY AXIALLY EXPANDED AND FOR PERMITTING SAID POLE SECTIONS TO ROTATE RELATIVELY TO ONE ANOTHER, COMPRISING: A COLLAR FABRICATED OF SYNTHETIC RESINOUS MATERIAL AND HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE SAID FIRST POLE SECTIONS; LOCKING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID COLLAR AGAINST SAID FIRST POLE SECTION AT ANY DESIRED LOCATION ALONG ITS LENGTH; SAID COLLAR INCLUDING AN END FACE DIRECTED TOWARD THE END OF SAID SECOND POLE SECTION; SAID COLLAR INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS SUBSTANTIALLY FRUSTOCONICAL CAVITY MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID END FACE AND SAID BORE; SAID CAVITY MEANS BEING DEFINED BY A CONTINUOUS WALL SURFACE BEING ANGULARLY INWARDLY TAPERED FROM SAID END FACE TO SAID BORE; SAID SECOND POLE SECTION HAVING ITS LOWER END DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAVITY MEANS WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID LOWER END SEATING AGAINST SAID CONTINUOUS WALL SURFACE; SAID SEATING OF SAID SECOND POLE SECTION LOWER END AGAINST SAID CONTINUOUS WALL SURFACE THEREBY SERVING TO MAINTAIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POLE SECTIONS IN PRESELECTED AXIALLY EXPANDED DISPOSITION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PERMITTING ONE OF SAID POLE SECTIONS TO ROTATE RELATIVELY TO THE OTHER; SAID RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID POLE SECTIONS CAUSING SAID METALLIC LOWER END ON SAID SECOND POLE SECTION TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY BITE INTO SAID SYNTHETIC RESINOUS CONTINUOUS WALL SURFACE TO THEREBY FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID INTERCONNECTION THEREBETWEEN WHICH PREVENTS RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND POLE SECTIONS PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXES THEREOF. 